The health department of ‘Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) seized large stocks of mangoes artificially ripened using cancercausing calcium carbide. The AMC team inspected the Kalupur fruit market and seized 989 kg of mangoes that had been artificiallyripened. The team also seized more than 40 kg of the deadly carbide from the market. Mangoes normally ripen towards the end of April, said senior officials at APMC Vejalpur. Hence those which are available in the market before mangoes are due have been ripened using acetylene gas produced from calcium carbide. Industrial-grade calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous which are harmful to the body. It damages the skin, kidneys, heart and liver and also causes ulcer and gastric problems.
